When I received an invitation to a company “Day at the Races” I knew just where to go for the perfect fabrics to whip up a winning outfit! I am a huge fan of cotton lawn and had spotted this Robert Kaufman London Calling horses print a while back. Kelly green, navy, and white, what is more perfect for race track attire? Into the cart it went, along with a coordinating rayon challis in navy (and the Tori Richard cotton lawn you saw in my last blog post). If you think based on the number of Cali blog posts I have done about cotton lawn that I am obsessed with it, you’d probably be right.

I knew my skirt would need a lining, so I took advantage of Cali’s excellent customer service to ask Ron whether the white rayon challis or the white ‘Paris Rayon Crepe’ by Robert Kaufman would be more opaque. He said the crepe, and he was right, it was perfect!

The skirt pattern is my own (Tie Dye Diva Patterns) Chocolate Chip skirt that you might have spotted in an earlier blog post. It’s a simple A-line style that pulls on and you bet it has pockets! The top is a Pinterest-inspired, self-drafted basic sleeveless shell with a wrap bodice that was only partially successful. It might not show in photos but center front is a hot mess and I need to find a better way of joining a left and right bodice that cross in the center! One tie goes through a hole in the side seam and ties in back. Such a cute little bow and you can appreciate the drape of the rayon challis.

Rayon fabrics can be a little shifty when cutting, and I used a light mist of spray starch before cutting and a brand new rotary blade to help with this.

The rayon crepe and cotton lawn worked really well for the skirt and it stayed relatively free of wrinkles despite a warm, long and active day in the viewing booth, the paddock, and the winner’s circle! The challis top did not fare quite as well and the unlined bottom portion of my top got pretty wrinkled by the end of the day. So while I admittedly gave it a tough workout, I’d probably fully line next time. OK, ready for the “sewing in real life” picture, warts and all?

My husband’s eyes are closed and we’re pretty rumpled, but what a beautiful day! And yes, we won!